Valentines Day 2010....a little bit late.

So I know Valentines day has come and gone however, our pictures from it have yet to be posted. The boys had the Friday before valentines day off for whatever reason from school. This meant that we had a free morning to do whatever before they had to go to their dads house for the weekend. I decided that since we're sooooooo into firetrucks, firemen and dalmations, that I would take them to build a bear and get the new and limited time dalmation. I know we don't need another stuffed animal but they're totally into dalmations and all the other stuff. So off we went. So Rick went with us to corral kids in the mall...coulda had ten more people helping out becasue those kids were wild. Mommy got the crazy idea to just take one stroller in for three kids. A single stroller mind you. They all fought over who got to push it. Didnt exactly work.

Brenden was cheesin with his new fireman dalmation dog. LOL, He named it "Igotta Firedog"...very specific.

Landon and his new police man dalmation. He named his "Hydra" from one of their Sesame Street books about firefighters.

Peyton being goofy with his puppy. He wasnt too fond of staying still long enough to name or get a birth certificate for his puppy unless he could type in on the screen himself. Needless to say, didnt exactly work out. His was gererically named "Valentine Dog". Cute huh.

Can you tell they love each other? On occasion? LOL, well regardless they had a blast. I actually took my camera to the store to get pictures of them doing it. I even made sure that I had a new battery in it. However, absent minded as I've been recently forgot and left my memory card at home...in my computer. Wont do much good there will it. So, you'll have to settle for these pictures.

All eyes on us....

All eyes on.....us? Alot about the eyes to talk about this time...Peyton, well, he's been playing with Mr. Potato heads glasses. As you can see. He's keepin his mommy on her toes - that's for sure!!!


...and eating boxes? Ha the things we do to occupy these kids lol.
...aaaaaaaaaaand....we've had tons. of. snow. and we're supposed to get more. snow. ugh. I'm tired of it. I know I live in ohio, deal with it and quit complaining..

But i'm sick of it...i'm sick of 12 inches of snow at a time. This is crazy.

Finally, It's a little late to be reporting this but better late than never! On Monday of this week, we went to Cleveland with Landon. I'll start off by saying "i'm glad that it's OVER." We woke up early and headed up. We had to be there at 9 or 9:30 and we got there at 9:15....after leaving at 7. It took us two hours to get there!!! Traffic, Traffic, Traffic!!! Landon had no clue really what was going on on the way up there... once we got there, he started asking but was still okay. He was set on talking to and flirting with the nurses. (Notice in the picture above how his eye turns in? That's what was being fixed...)
He knew that eventually he'd be getting a "breathing treatment" which is when they put him to sleep. After a little bit of a wait and some happy juice, he was finally taken back. He did so good. He was saying "mommy, that mecinin made me feel funny...." and "I tant sit up, it's hard to!" When we got back to the OR, he layed on the table for them and told them all about his pictures in his photo album and then they asked him if he could count to 10. He said "Yeah!" and started to....only making it to 7.

After about an hour and a half, Dr. Traboulsi came out and told us that he was out of the OR but not awake yet. He said that there was alot of scar tissue from where the muscles had been cut prior for his surgery at 3 months old for the plaque. The muscle had apprently attatched it self to the eye and he said it was a little harder than he had expected to do because of that. However, he did it and although Landons vision wont ever be perfect out of that eye, hopefully it wont turn back in a

After a rocky wake up time in recovery, we headed home. Later that night, he was feeling back to himself.
Brenden on bottom, Landon behind him.

Brenden laughing.
Brenden again.Landon was tired....really tired...and his eye was still sore but day by day it's getting better. It looks so much straighter now. I'm so proud of him, he seems to be doing better now...not hurting so much. Below...one of my more recent favorite pics.

Special.....

* I recieved this along with Peytons "Heart Book" in the Nicu. His heart book had a list of his medications and medical terms that we were able to refer to when the doctors used that doctor talk during "rounds". It also set Peyton apart from the other NICU babies in allowing nurses to know right away that he had a Heart Defect. Apparently another NICU mother wrote this.

A New Baby to Love

All children need love, understanding and care,
someone they can count on to always be there.

But God knew some children would need more than others,
that's why He chose special mothers.

They have unique challenges right from the start,
so the Lord holds these families close to heart.

He gives them His strength and the patience to wait;
they learn that small steps bring rewards that are great.

And they come to know joys that they'd never dreamed of,
when their hearts ahve been touched by a special child's love.

Seven Hearts in Seven Days....Check it out!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know what a good CHD Mom friend of mine is hosting 7 Hearts in 7 Days on her Blog. It's a series of blogs that spotlight CHD Moms and CHD Survivors during this week. This week is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Most of you that read my blog are family and know about my son Peyton being born with a CHD but for those of you that dont frequent my blog alot or have just come across it, when my twins were 9 months old, we found out that we would be expecting another baby. Everything went fine up until I tripped over the dog and my doctor put me in the hospital for routine monitoring. This included an ultrasound because the babies heart rate was lower and he wanted to make sure that the placenta hadn't separated when I fell. That's when we found out about Peytons CHD and our life took a crazy turn that we had never expected. Keep checking out her blog this week for Peytons CHD Story which will be featured as well as to learn about CHDs. Did you know that "Nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart disease in the United States each year as die from all forms of childhood cancers combined." Apparently I got both ends of the deal there. However, I would not ever change it for the world. I wouldn't be as strong as I am now if I wouldn't have went through all of this. Anyways, I have to run but i wanted to tell everyone to check that out. I'll try and post another tonight, once I get back home!

The New Year Has Brought Wonderful Things!

What a great holiday season we had. So much has happened and the new year is off to a wonderful start. A few weeks before Christmas, I had a job interview with a local school district for a part time intervention position. I loved the school - it reminded me of the school that I went to when I was in elementary school. A quiet country school surrounded by corn fields. Anyways, I wasnt sure if i was going to get the job or not because they had asked me about more current testing method and I'm not familiar with it since I taught in North Carolina and not in Ohio. Anyways, just a few days before Christmas, the principal called and asked me if i was interested in the position! Heck yeah! So, Friday, i'll be going there to meet my co-workers and find out all the details.

On Tuesday January 4th, Rick and I had our final court hearing making our divorce final as we have been living separate for almost 2 years. That's a load off of my shoulders. Maybe now we'll be able to get along better without thinking about what can be held above our heads in court. I hope so because I dont think that I can handle any more stress like we've gone through.


On Wednesday - which was yesterday - we took Landon to see Dr. Traboulsi at the Cleveland Clinic for his eye appointment concerning his eyes crossing from previous surgeries. His vision improved by one line (which is good but not great). We scheduled surgery for February 22nd where they will do muscle surgery to tighten the muscles from when he had had the Radiation Plaques inserted. Since then, the thing that was easiest to tell the boys apart has been their eyes because Landons have crossed. Hopefully, they wont cross now. We'll still have to patch him to strengthen the muscles and he'll wear glasses to help him see as there is alot of scar tissue around the retina. I asked if he could have the EUA with Dr. Singh done at the same time and he said he wouldnt mind however they're not in the OR at the same time that week and they dont have to see the boys again for an EUA until April so that wont be happening. In talking to Dr. Traboulsi about all of this, he said that he will do an EUA before he does the muscle surgery in order to make sure that there is nothing that needs treated. If something does need treated, he said he would be sure to call Dr. Singh at that time and he would come straight to the OR to perform the needed treatment. He assured us that he knows what he's looking for in Retinoblastoma as he was the specialist prior to Dr. Singh. He also knows Dr. Price, who was the specialist at the Cleveland Clinic that treated me and when he moved to University Opthalmology, another took over at the Cleveland Clinic before Dr. Traboulsi did. So...things went well there. The surgery will be an in and out surgery and it will be at the main surgery center (per my request) rather than that Cole Eye Center. I prefer the main bc we've had some issues with nurses at the Cole Eye Center - nurses at the main know us and know the kids and how they need to be dealt with before, during and after surgery.

By the way, Christmas was great. I actually have tons of pictures to post on here but...I thought a Landon update was a little bit more important. I'll try and get the on here tonight.

Merry Chirstmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, and in our house full of grins,
Not a creature was stirring, not even the twins;
Side-by-side stockings were hung on the closet door with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would soon see the pair;
Our double blessings of joy were nestled, each snug in toddler beds,
While visions of remote controlled firetrucks danced in their heads;
Grandma collapsed on the couch, and I fell asleep on the floor,
It had been a long day, and soon the room was full of snore.
Alert to all sounds, there arose such a noise,
We immediately jumped to our feet, could that be the boys?
No! This came from outside and we looked on the lawn,
(ignoring the footprints traced through the lawn).
What should we see there, In front of our still-lit Christmas light display?
An amazing sight! Eight identical reindeer, leading a sleigh.
And guiding the team, pulling the reins with a jolt,
Was a grizzled, white-bearded old man (probably the dad of mults....)
Obviously used to barking out orders to a crew,
He whistled and shouted, calling out to his reindeer, two-by-two;
"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
On to the twins' house, it's time to see,
If they have been good little boys, both Twin A and Twin B!"
And then, in a twin-inkling, we heard a noise up above,
"While on our roof," I shouted. "Do you see the twins lost gloves?"
But just then down the chimney came St. Nick with a leap.
(It was quite loud in the house, would the twins stay asleep?)
He was decked in red and white, adorned all in fur,
And with a full grin, a father of twins to be sure!;
On his back was a bag, it was filled to the brim with toys,
Could those be gifts for our boys?
His eyes -- how they twin-kled! they had such appeal,
And by the looks of his belly, he didn't miss too many meals.
His face was broad with cheeks that reminded us of bubbles,
With wide dimples that were second only to our double troubles;
He silently dodged the strewn toys and went straight to his work,
Filling both boys stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And with a jolly old chuckel, nod and a wink,
He exclaimed, "off to the Stuckeys' home, if I missed them, what would their trips think!"
My twins would be so full of glee,
Despite missing the sight near the tree.
But hopefully they heard St. Nick's farewell as he sailed off in flight,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

Halloween, Thanksgiving....

Hello blogging world! Its been a few...so i'm going to catch up in pictures here...bear with me :-)

First, we had a Halloween Party at GGM. What an interesting party. We had alot of fun learning to dance...and wondering where Katie was... ;-)

My Dad (A factory worker - or a "dying breed") and Myself (Deputy)
Paul and Katie finally showed up. Can you tell who was who? Good thing Paul fits in well with the family....

...or he would have slapped my dad. LOL.The Infamous GAB in her Biker Witch costume and Grandma T and Aunt T (I'm gonna have to get that costume off of you.... ;-) )
Even grandma got in on the fun...


Peyton and his 2nd cousin Aniyah celebrated their birthdays together on the day after Thanksgiving. We'd been sick over Peytons Birthday and weren't able to get the family together so this was prime time!
Aniyah and her mom ready for the cake and presents and below, Peyton and I wait for the "happy birthday song" only for Peyton to scream and want to hide under the table.
See?
Peyton really liked his cupcake. He had an odd way of eating it though.



My cousins baby shower and my finished project of the baby blanket I made for baby Neeli who made her arrival before the baby shower!

Mommy got a new phone....and it has this cute application on it that says the letters of the alphabet whenever the keys are touched on the pad....so here's Landon...looks like he's texting.


In the spirit of Christmas coming up, the boys are on a kick that they want "Remote control fire truck choo choo trains". This is what htey've asked for from Santa and it's all they talk about. (Thank God for ebay....) I think we're going to have some future Firemen on our hands...watch out Adam!!

And...we've finally got rid of the binky...its a little bit rough at bedtime b/c he would normally fall asleep on his own...so now we're back to Bedtimes from Hell but we'll work it out somehow...

So, expect christmas and .....easter pictures next with the way I'm going!